Design-Build Ethos: Protecting Vision, Elevating Practice

Too often, an architect's vision is compromised once the builder—or the budget—takes over. This session will explore how design-build models put architects back in the driver's seat, ensuring the protection of design integrity from concept through construction.

Two architect-led practitioners, from opposite coasts and using different models, will share how integration delivers stronger collaboration, cost clarity, and craftsmanship—without dilution of the original design intent. Join us to gain actionable strategies for embedding design-build principles into your practice, safeguarding architectural excellence, and creating built environments that truly reflect your vision.

Learning Objectives

1. Compare options for project delivery using the design-build method with the traditional design-bid-build model, and identify specific measures of control the architect can maintain throughout the process.
2. Discuss how coordination between the design team and contractor evolves during design, the development of construction documents, and construction administration.
3. Learn how increased contractor buy-in during design and sustained architect influence during construction can preserve building design strategies in the built project.
4. Review an example from one of the case studies in which close architect-contractor collaboration resolved a code compliance issue.

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